Stretching machine



Sept. 7, 1937 .A. M. HARVEY STRETCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 m H .5 0 w n l A A. M. HARVEY Sept. 7, 1937.

STRETCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR 14m M Harvey ATTO'RNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. M. HARVEY 'STRETCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1935 IIIII'IIIIIIII'? Sept.

P 7', 1937. A. M. HARVEY STRE TCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRETCHING MACHINE Aro M. Harvey, Kansas City, Mo.

Application September 18, 1935, Serial No. 41,121

29 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for stretching garments, such as trousers and the like, to their original size and shape after they have been shrunk incidental to cleaning or other causes, the principal objects of the invention being to apply stretching pressure so as to not injure the fabric of the garment; to provide for application of steam to the garment; to apply stretching pressure on both the warp and woof threads of the fabric in the longitudinal direction of the threads, and to provide for drying the garment while retained in stretched condition.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide for selectively stretching portions of a garment independent of the other portions.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stretching and steaming apparatus embodying the features of the present invention, and showing the form members in extended or stretching position.

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view showing the form members in collapsed position for the application of a garment thereto.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section through the apparatus with the form members shown in stretching position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section through a portion of the apparatus, particularly illustrating the steam supply ducts and their connection with the steam chamber.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section of the outer end of the form members, particularly illustrating the steamsupply ducts.

Fig. 7 is a cross section through the form mem bers on the line 'l--l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a similar section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a detail vertical section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

hollow post 3, having a closure cap 4 on its upper end to form a steam and condensate separating chamber 5 therein. The post 3 is braced relatively to the foot 2 by spaced webs 6 and 1!, between which is mounted a treadle operating lever mechanism, later described.

Extending upwardly alongside of the post, in heat transfer relation with the steam chamber 5, is an air chamber 8 for heating compressed air that is delivered to the lower guide tracks, as later described. 'Mounted on the head 4 is a bracket 9, having upwardly extending arms ill and H at the sides thereof that are provided at their upper ends with openings Hand 33, in which are mounted upper tubular guide tracks it and H5. The tubular guide tracks I t and i5 comprise sections of pipe having forwardly extending ends it and I1 for mounting the form members, later described. The opposite ends of the pipe sections project from the bracket arms in and M, and are equipped with elbows l8 and it which connect with vertical pipes 20 andZl' that are supported in a rearward extension 22 of the head 2, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The pipes 20 and M are connected at their lower ends to ,a header 23, through T fittings 22, either one of which may be connected with a steam supply pipe 25, while the other is closed by a plug 26.

Formed in the bracket arms ill and it in downwardly spaced relation with openings l2 and it, are sockets 21, Fig. 4, in which are mounted the ends of lower tubular guide tracks 28 and 29 that are connected at their opposite ends by return bends 30 and 3|.

The return bends 30 and 3| do not communicate directly with the lower guide tracks, but are provided with partitions 32 for closing the open ends of the lower guide tracks, and which have openings 33 therein for mounting the ends of conduits 34 that are housed within the lower tracks and have their opposite ends supported in openings 35, formed concentrically with the sockets 21, previously described, and which communicate with channels 36 extending downwardly within the bracket arms I0 and II to connect with pipes 31 and 38 having their upper ends screwed into bosses 39 depending from the under side of the head 4, and having their lower ends provided with elbow fittings 40 and 4|, which in turn are screwed into opposite diametrical sides of the post 3 at a point spaced above the bottom of the steam chamber 5, as best shown in Fig. 3.

Connected with the post 3, below the inlet connection of the street L's 40 and 4|, is an outlet pipe 42 that connects with a trap 49 for discharging condensate collecting in the bottom of the steam chamber through pipe 44.

With the construction thus far described, steam is admitted through the supply pipe 25, header 23, and pipes 28 and 2I to the interior of the upper tubular guide tracks I4 and I for flow along the length thereof to the return bends 38 and 3| where thesteam is directed through the conduits 34 for flow to the channels 36 and through the pipes 31 and 38 into the steam chamber 5. The steam passes upwardly within the chamber 5 and around bailles 45, which cause any entrained moisture carried therewith to gravitate to the bottom of the chamber.

The steam free of water vapor passes out of the chamber 5 through an outlet pipe 48, having a shut-off valve 41 therein to control the flow of steam from the chamber 5. The outlet of the valve is connected through a header 48 with branch pipes 49 and 58 that respectively connect, as at 5I and 52, with the under side of the lower tubular guide tracks28 and 29, to admit steam to the annular spaces 53 surrounding the conduits 34, the lower guide tracks being provided with a plurality of apertures 54, wherethrough the steam flows into contact with the garments, as presently described.

Also connected with the header 48, on the outlet side of the valve 41, is a pipe 56 that connects with an outlet 51 of the air chamber 8, air being supplied to the chamber through an inlet pipe 58 that is connected with a suitable source of compressed air supply, not shown. The pipe 56 is provided with a valve 59 having an actuating lever 68, whereby the air passage through the valve may be controlled to effect selective admission of heated air to the lower guide tracks.

The steam valve 41 has its operating stem connected by a pull rod GI with one end of a rock lever 62 that is pivotally mounted between the webs 6 and 1 on a pin 63. The outer end of the lever is connected with a treadle 64 by a flexible connection 65, the treadle 64 being pivotally mounted along one edge thereof by suitable hinges 66, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Mounted on the outer ends of the guide tracks, between intermediate pairs of spacers 61-68 and 89--18, are pairs of slides 1I-12 and 13-14. The slides are best illustrated in Fig. 10, and include mated sections 15 and 16 hinged together at their upper ends by a pin 11 extending through interfitting hinged lugs 18 and 19 on the respective sections. Formed in the inner faces of the sections are aligning semi-circular grooves 88 BI and 82-83 to fit over the upper and lower guide tracks, as shown in Figs. 7 and'8. The lower ends of the sections are secured together, when the slides are mounted on the guide tracks, by a screw 84 extending through spaced ears 85 and 86 depending from the respective sections.

Formed intermediate the semi-circular grooves of each slot is an intermediate opening 81 for mounting push rods 88 and 89 extending longitudinally between the upper and lower pairs of tracks, and having their rear ends slidably mounted in openings 98 and 9| in the arms I8 and II. The rods are loosely mounted in the openings of the rear pair of slides but their forward ends are rigidly mounted in the front pair of slides 1I12 by suitable threaded connections 92, as best shown in Fig. 6.

Formed on each of the return bends are nose brackets 93 and 94, having rounded ends 95 and 96 for guarding the ends of upper and lower pairs of rails 91-99 and 99-188 constituting forms for shaping the respective legs of a garment, as later described. 7

The upper rails 91 and 98 have rounded upper faces shaped at their forward ends to correspond to the bottom portions of the trouser legs, at their rear ends to correspond to the front of the thigh and their intermediate portions to the spring in the knees of a pair of trousers. The lower rails are shaped, at their respective ends, to correspond to the rear of the leg bottoms respectively, while the intermediate portions thereof are shaped to the calves of the legs. The forward ends of the upper rails are rigidly mounted on the nose brackets 93 and 94, while their opposite ends are connected for rigid support on the rear pair of spacers 69 and 18 by blocks IM and I 8| that are fixed to the spacers, and extend upwardly into longitudinal slots I82 that are formed in the rails and through which steam or heated air is allowed to flow into contact with the portions of the trousers engaging the rails. The rails are secured to the lugs by suitable fastening devices I83 that extend through openings in the sides of the rails and into threaded sockets in the respective blocks. If desired, the rails may also be connected to the intermediate spacers 61 and 68.

The lower rails 91 and 99 are provided at their respective ends with ears I84-I85 and I86l81, which are pivotally connected by pairs of suspending links I88I89 and II8-III that have their upper ends pivotally connected with the screws 81 that connect the lower ends of the respective pairs of slide sections, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The forward pair of links I88 and I89 are pivotally connected with the lower side of the nose brackets 93 and 94 by trammel links H2 and H3, the links being connected with the nose brackets by pivot pins H4 and H5, and their lower ends are pivotally connected with the links I 88 and I89, at a point substantially midway between the ends thereof, by means of pins H6 and H1.

It is thus apparent that when the push rods are moved forwardly between the respective pairs of guide tracks, the front slides move in the direction of the return bends, and since the links I 88 and I89 are connected to the nose brackets by means of the trammel links. H2 and H3, the forward ends of the lower rails will be moved downwardly away from the upper arms and since the positioning of the fulcrum points H6 and II 1 is definitely related to the pivotal points of the suspending links I88 and I89, the forward ends of the lower rails will move directly in a downward direction with little or no longitudinal movement, thus the forward ends of the respective lower rails remain in substantially the same vertical plane and align with the upper rails.

When the rear pair of slides are moved in a rearward direction along the pairs of guide tracks, the rear ends of the lower rails will be moved downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, to stretch the knee and thigh portions of a garment that may be carried by the forms.

The rear ends of the push rods 88 and 89 carry yokes I28 and I2I that are respectively connected by links I22 and I23 with a pair of rocker arms I24 and I25, having their lower ends fixed to a rock shaft I26 rotatably mounted in depending ribs on the rearwardly extending bracket 22, previously described. Fixed to one of the outer ends of the shaft I26 is a lever arm I21, having a forwardly extending socket I28 at its upper end in which is mounted a forwardly extendingactuating lever I29. It is thus obvious that when the lever I29 is moved downwardly, the rocker arms on the. shaft I "will cause forward movement 'of' tween the upper pairs of guide tracks, and mounted on a bracket I36 preferably formed as a part of the rearwardly extending bracket 22. The latch guide is so shaped that it will slide freely along its support when the push rod is moved in a forward direction, but when the push rod tends to move in the opposite direction, an integral weight I31, on its forward end, will effect tilting of the latch into gripping engagement with thelatch guide to lock the push rods against retractive movement, thereby holding the forward ends of the respective pairs of rails in extended position.

The latch, however, may be selectively released by means of a handle lever I38, whereby the latch may be tilted to align the opening therein with its guide so that the latch may be moved freely thereon under the propelling influence of a spring I39 having one end connected to the lever I29 and its opposite end to an arm I49 extending. upwardly from the bracket 22, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The spring I39 maybe guided over the rear end of the lever arm by a pulley I mounted thereon, and adapted to engage with the spring when the forward end of the lever arm is in its lowermost position.

In order to actuate the rear pair of slides, they are connected by actuating rods I I8 and I I9 with lever arms I42 and I43 that are fixed on a rock shaft I 44, journaled in suitable hearings in the cylinder head bracket, previously described, the shaft I44 being operated by a handle lever I45, extending forwardly in convenient position for the operator.

The forward ends of the rods H8 and H9 are pivotally connected with the rear pair of slides by means of screws I46 and I41, extending through openings in the ends of the rods and into threaded sockets in the slides, while the rear ends of the rods are pivotally connected with the lever arms I42 and I43 by. pins I48 and I49, extending through aligning openings therein, as best shown in Fig. 5.

Also slidably mounted on the respective pairs of guide tracks, is a stretching carriage I59, comprising a frame including side bars I5I connected at their upper and lower ends by cross bars I52 and I53, having aligning openings I54 and I55 therein to slidably mount a vertical bar I 56, later described.

Projecting laterally from the side bars I5I of the carriage are lugs I51 and I58, to which are connected-shoes I59 and I69 engaging over the upper pair of guide tracks, as best shown in Fig. 9. The shoes I 59 and I 69 include a lowensection I6 I, curved to conform'to the lower portion of the tracks, and an upper section I62 for engaging over the upper portion of the tracks, both sections having inwardly extending arms I63 and I64, provided with openings I65 aligning with openings I66 in lugs I51 and I58, wherethrough screws I89 and I19 are passed to secure the guides to the carriage fram Fixed to the upper guide sections are pairs of upwardly extending lugs "I and I12, for mounting the rear ends I13 and I14 of forwardly extending fingers I15 and I16 that are adapted to engage the inner face of a waist band at points in line with the upper guide rails, the .arms being shaped to conform to the engaged portions of the garment in the same manner as the rail members of the leg forms previouslydescribed.

The slide bar I56 has its upper end projecting through the cross bar I52, and through a pivoted latch I11 to connect with the yokeshaped end I18 of an actuating lever I19, the' lever I19 being fulcrumed on the carriage by a link I89 that is attached to the lever by a pin IN and to an ear I82 projecting from the carriage frame by a pin I83.

Adjustably mounted on the slide bar H9 is a jaw I94, having a rearwardly extending arm I provided with a squared opening 586 therein to slidably pass the slide bar I56, the arm being adjustably fixed to the slide bar by a set screw m bearing against a spring I81 having its opposite end frictionally engaging the slide bar, as shown in Fig. 12. I

The jaw I84 is of substantiallythe same width as thefiy portion of a pair of trousers, and is of sufficient length to engage over the waist band .thereof when the fly is in buttoned condition.

Cooperating with the jaw I84 is a lower jaw I89 also slidably adjusted on the bar I56 by an arm I89, having an opening 199 therein to accommodate the bar, and is frictionally retained in adjusted position by a set screw I9I and spring similarly to the jaw I84 previously described. The jaw I88 includes a body I92 for engagement with the waist band and downwardly diverging arms I93 and I94 shaped to conform to the seat of the trousers to stretch that portion of the garment, as later described.

In order to raise the bar I56 on the carriage, the lower end thereof has a pin I95, to which is connected a'coil spring I96 having its upper end connected to a fixed point on the carriage frame. The bar, however, is normally latched against upward movement by the spring I96 by means of a latch I11 that is pivotally mounted on the top cross bar I52 of the carriage frame, as best shown in Fig. 9. The latch includes a plateportion I98, having an opening I 99 therein of slightly larger dimensions than the cross section of the bar, so that when the latchis moved n an upward direction, the upper and lower edges of opposite sides of the opening engage against the bar to retain it in adjusted position. The latch is normally urged into latching position by means of a coil spring 299, having one end seated on the carriage frame, and its opposite end engaging in a socket 29I of the latch. The latch is actuated against tension of the spring 299 by a I lever 292 forming part of the latch, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 9.

The carriage is moved along the guide tracks by means of a crank 293 that is fixed to a rock shaft 294 journaled in the bracket 22 of the head 4, previously described, and having an upwardly toward the stretching forms to release tension on a garment carried thereby.

In order to latch the carriage in adjusted position upon the guide tracks, the shoe I59 carries a rearwardly extending arm 281 that pivotally mounts a latch 288 having a ring-shaped end 289 frictionally engaging over the guide track I6, as best shown in Fig. 11. The end 289 of the latch is caused to friotionally engage the track by means of a coil spring 2I8, having one end bearing against the shoe, and its opposite end against the latch, the latch being moved to re leased position against tension of the spring 2I8 by a handle 2.

In using a machine constructed and assembled as described, the lower rails are moved into the position shown in Fig. 2 and the slide bar carry-' ing the jaws I84 and I88 is raised to its highest position. The trousers are held by the waist band in such a position that the leg portions thereof are drawn over the outer ends of the respective rails after which the fly thereof is buttoned at the waist band.

The stretching carriage is then moved in the direction of the rails to permit positioning of the waist band over the fingers I15 and I16,'care being taken that the fly of the trousers is positioned midway therebetween. The upper'jaw is moved downwardly on the slide bar I56 into engagement with the fly at the waist band for taking up sufficient slack therein so that the fingers I15 and I16 engage the portions of the waist that align with the front center of the trouser legs, after which the lower jaw I88 is moved on the slide bar I56 to engage the inner face of the waist band so that it is held in slight tension over the fingers I15 and I16.

The next operation is to step on the treadle 64 to effect momentary opening of the steam valve 41, which allows steam to pass from the steam chamber 5 through the branch pipes 58 and 5I, into the lower guide rails for escape through the apertures therein. The steam, upon contacting the garment, moistens and softens the material to aid in shaping the garment.

The waist band and upper portions of the hips are then stretched to size by rocking the lever I19 in a downward direction, moving the slide bar and causing both jaws to exert stretching tension upon the band. Upon release of the lever the latch I11 holds the bar in set position maintaining the stretching tension upon the band. The bottoms of the legs are then adjusted on the rails so that the cuff or end portions thereof align with notches 2I2 and 2l3 at the ends of the rails.

The operator then grasps the lever I29 and draws it downward against tension of the spring I39. This movement of the lever actuates the rock shaft I26 to swing the arms I24 and I25 in a forward direction to slide the push rods 88 and 89. Forward movement of the push rods causes the forward slides 12 to slide along the guide tracks. This movement of the slides causes the outer ends of the lower rails 99 and I88 to move downwardly and away from the upper rails, effecting a stretch in the bottom portion of the trouser legs.

As previously mentioned, the tramrnel links I I2 and I I3 cause the forward ends of the lower rails to move directly in a perpendicular direction, while their rear ends are pivoting on the rear slides, therefore the bottom portion of the trouser legs are stretched without placing any lateral tension. on the garment. The pressure acting on the bottoms of the legs is, therefore, exerted at right angles to the axis of the track during the entire stretching operation.

. The garment is again momentarily subjected to the steam, after which the carriage is moved rearwardly upon the guide rails to stretch the garment for length. This is accomplished by actuating the crank 283 to cause retractive swinging movement of the arms 285, and retractive movement of the carriage through the link 286. During this movement of the carriage, the latch 288 slides freely along the guide track I5, but immediately upon release of the crank, the engaging portion 289 of the latch moves into gripping engagement with the track by action of the spring The latch now retains the carriage in adjusted position and maintains a longitudinal tension upon the garment to stretch the threads of the fabric that are positioned longitudinally thereof. The leg and seat portions of the garment have now been stretched to the proper length measurements. The next operation is to stretch the thigh, seat and remainder of the leg portions of the garment by moving the rear ends of the lower rails downwardly away from the upper rails. This is accomplished by actuating the lever I45 to rock the shaft I44 in a clockwise direction. This movement of the shaft draws the rear slides along the tracks in the direction of the stretching carriage due to their connection with the arms I42 and I43 by the pull rods H8 and H9. This movement of the slides causes downward movement of the rear ends of the lower rails by swinging action of the links H8 and III during which the opposite ends of the rails are pivoting upon the pins I84 and I85.

As previously described, the intermediate portion of the upper rails is shaped to conform to the spring in the knees of the garment, and the intermediate portion of the lower rails is shaped to conform to the calves, consequently this movement of the lower rails stretches the knee portions of the garment to their proper shape. Likewise, the thigh and hip portions of the garment are stretched incidental to the shaping of the rear ends of the respective rails. During this later stretching operation the garment is being subjected to steam. If desired both levers, I45 and 283 may be operated in unison so that the stretch takes place simultaneously in both longitudinal and transverse directions.

After the garment has been initially stretched,

any one of the respective levers may be readjusted to stretch any portion of the garment that has not been brought to its proper size and shape. The correct amount of stretch to be taken in the respective parts of the garment can be ascertained by the resistance offered to movement of the respective levers, therefore it is difficult to stretch any one portion of the garment beyond its original size or limit.

After the garment has been brought to size and shape, the steam is shut off and the air valve 59 opened to allow the hot air to escape through the perforations in the lower guide rail for drying out the garment and effecting set thereof in the shape imparted to it. After turning oif the air, the handle I45 is released to collapse the rear ends of the respective rails. The latch 288 is then released and the carriage moved forwardly to relax longitudinal tension on the trousers. The latch I91 is now released to permit the spring I16 to raise the slide bar I56 thereby relieving tension on the waist band. The next step is to gaopaava release the lever I29 by moving the latch I33, whereupon the spring I 38 releases the lever I29 to etlect retractive movement of the push rods and collapse theiorward ends of the rails. This completely frees the garment so that it may be withdrawn from the machine. The machine is again ready for the application of the'next pair oi trousers.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have provided a machine of simple construction, wherein stretching pressure may be applied both longitudinally and transversely of the fabric to restore the garments to their original size and shape,which can be set by drying the garment directly on the stretching forms. By applying the pressure selectively to the different portions of the garment, each part may be stretched independently of the other parts, so that it is impossible to tear or injure the fabric. Attention is also directed to the fact that pressure is applied longitudinally of both the warp and woof threads of the fabric, rather than on a bias. It is also to be' noted that travel of the steam through the tracks thoroughly retains the parts of the various stretching elements in heated condition to preventcondensation and to aid in drying out of the'garment.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character described a support, a pair of collapsible forms on the support, a stretching carriage movable on'the support to and from the forms, means on the carriage for gripping a garment applied to the forms, means for expanding the forms to stretch the garment in one direction, means for moving the carriage to stretch the garment in a transverse direction, and means for moving said gripping means on the carriage to cooperate with the forms in stretching the garment in the first named direction.

2. In an apparatus of the character described including a support, a guide track on the support, a form member carried by the guide track including fixed and movable rails, means for passing steam through the guide track, means for admitting the steam to a garment carried by the form member, means for actuating the movable rail to stretch the garment, a garment gripping member carried on the guide track, and means for moving one of said members on the guide track relatively to the other to stretch the gar- .ment in a longitudinal direction on the rails.

3. In anapparatus for stretching trousers, means for engagingly supporting the waist band of a pair of trousers at spaced points on opposite sides ofthe fly portion of the trousers, means movable to and from said supporting means for engaging the back of the waist band opposite the fly, means for drawing said fly portion of the trousers in the direction of the movable means to carry the fly inwardly between said supporting means to cooperate with the movable means for tensioning the waist band, means for applying diametrical tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, and means for stretching the trousers to length.

4. In a machine of the character described, a support, a pair of forms on the support, a stretching carriage movable on the support to and from the forms, spaced supporting means on the carriage and aligning with the forms for engaging the waist band of a garment applied to the forms, a gripping member movably supported on the carriage for engaging the back of the waist band at a point intermediate the waist band supporting means, fly engaging means on the carriage and movable between ing the carriage away from the forms to stretch the garment for length."

5. In a machine of the character described a'support, a pair of collapsible forms on the support, a stretching carriage movable on the support to and from the forms, spaced supporting means on the carriage and aligning with the collapsible forms for engaging the waist band of a garment applied to theform's, a gripping member movably supported on the carriage for engaging the back of the waist band at a point intermediate the waist band supporting means, fly engaging means on the carriage and. movable between said waist band supporting means to tension the waist band of the garment, means for moving the carriage away from the collapsible forms to stretch the garment for length, and means for expanding the collapsibleand means for moving the carriage on the guide tracks to and from the collapsible forms.

7. In a machine of the character described, a support, spaced guide tracks on the support, collapsible forms carried by the guide tracks, a

stretching carriage slidably supported on theguide tracks, a pair of supporting fingers fixed to the carriage in alignment with the collapsible forms, a rod slidably mounted in the carriage between said supporting fingers, a latch on the carriage having frictional engagement with the rod to retain said rod in a selected position,

stretching-members adjustably supported on the rod, means for moving the rod on the carriage to position said stretching members in stretching relation relatively to the supporting fingers, and means for moving the carriage on the guide tracks to and from the collapsible forms.

8. In a machine of the character described, a support, spaced guide tracks on the support, collapsible forms carried by the guide tracks, a stretching carriage slidably'supported on the guide tracks, a pair of supporting fingers fixed on the carriage in alignment with the collapsible forms, a rod slidably mounted in the carriage between said supporting fingers, a latch on the carriage and engaging the rod to retain the rod in a selected position, stretching members adcollapsible forms for engaging the waist band of a garment applied to the forms, a gripping member movably supported on the carriage for engaging the back of the waist band at a point intermediate the waist band supporting means, fly engaging means on the carriage and movable between said waist band supporting means to tension the waist band of the garment, means for moving the carriage away from the collapsible forms to stretch the garment for length,-

means for expanding the collapsible forms, and means for supplying steam to said garment while retained on the forms.

10. In a machine of the character described, a support, a pair of tracks projecting from the support, a pair of collapsible forms each including upper and lower rails, means fixing one of the rails of each pair relatively to the tracks, means slidable on the tracks for pivotally supporting the other rails to move said rails to and from thefixed rails, a stretching carriage movable on the support to and from the forms, spaced supporting means on the carriage and aligning with the collapsible forms for engaging the waist band of a garment applied to the forms, a gripping member movably supported on the carriage for engaging the back of the waist band at a point intermediate the waist band supporting means, fly engaging means on the carriage and movable between said waist band supporting means to tension the waist band of the garment, means for moving the carriage away from the collapsible forms to stretch the garment for length, and means for sliding said supporting means on the tracks to actuate the pivoted rails.

11. In an apparatus for stretching trousers including means for engagingly supporting the waist band of the trousers at spaced points on opposite sides of the fly, means movable to and from said supporting means for engaging an intermediate point at'the back of the waist band, means for drawing the fly in the direction of said intermediate point to tension the waist band over said supporting means, means for applying diametrical tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, and means for stretching the trousers for length.

12. The method of stretching trousers including securing the fly of the trousers at the waist band, gripping the waist band of the trousers at spaced points on opposite sides of the fly and at an intermediate point at the back oi the waist band, drawing the fly in the direction of said intermediate point to tension the waist band over the spaced points, applying diametrical tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, and stretching the trousers for length.

13. The method of stretching trousers including securing the fly of the trousers at the waist band, gripping the waist band of the trousers at spaced points on opposite sides of the fly and at an intermediate point at the back of the waist band, drawing thefly in the direction of said intermediate pointto tension the waist band over the spaced points, applying diametrical tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, stretching the trousers for length, and simultaneously shaping the seat and hip portions of the trousers.

14. The method of stretching trousers including securing the fly of the trousers at the waist band, gripping the waist band of the trousers at spaced points on opposite sides of the fly and in substantial alignment with the front of the leg portions of the garment and at an intermediate point at the back of the waist band, drawing the fly in the direction of said intermediate point to tension the waist band over the spaced points, applying diametrical tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, stretching the trousers for length, and shaping the leg portions of the trousers while maintaining the trousers in stretched condition.

15. The method of stretching trousers including securing the fly of the trousers at the waist band, gripping the waist band of the trousers at spaced points on opposite sides of the fly and at an intermediate point at the back of the waist band, drawing the fly in the direction of said intermediate point to tension the waist band over the spaced points, applying diametrical tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, stretching the trousers for length, simultaneously shaping the seat and hip portions of the trousers, and shaping the leg portions while maintaining the trousers in stretched condition.

16. The method of stretching trousers including securing the fly of the trousers at the waist band, gripping the waist band of the trousers at spaced points on opposite sides of the fly and at an intermediate point at the back of the waist band, drawing the fly in the direction of said intermediate point to tension the waist band over the spaced points, applying diametrical tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, stretching the trousers for length, and steaming the trousers while retained in stretched condition.

17. The method of stretching trousers including securing the fly of the trousers at the waist band, gripping the waist band'of the trousers at spaced points on opposite sides of the fly and at an intermediate point at the back of the waist band, drawing the fly in thedirection of said intermediate point to tension the waist band over the spaced points, applying diametrical tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, stretching the trousers for length, simultaneously shaping the seat and hip portions of the trousers,

and steaming the trousers while retained in stretched condition.

18. The method of stretching trousers including securing the fly of the trousers at the waist band, gripping the waist band of the trousers at spaced points on opposite sides of the fly and at an intermediate point at the back of the waist band, drawing the fly in the direction of said intermediate point to tension the waist band over the spaced points, applying diametrical tension to the bottoms of the leg portions-of the trousers,

, stretching the trousers for length, shaping the leg portions of the trousers while maintaining the trousers in stretched condition, and steaming the trousers while retained in stretched condition.

19. The method of stretching trousers including securing the fly of the trousers at the waist band, gripping the waist band of the trousers at spaced points on oposite sides of the fly and at an intermediate point at the back of the waist band, drawing the fly in the direction of said intermediate point to tension the waist band over the spaced points, applying diametrical tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, stretching the trousers for length, simultaneously shaping the seat and hip portions of the trousers, shaping the leg portions while maintaining the trousers in stretched condition, and steaming the trousers while retained in stretched condition.

an intermediate point at the back of the, waist band, drawing the fly in the direction of said intermediate point to tension the waist band over the spaced points, applying diametrical tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, stretching the trousers for length,

steaming the trousers while retained in stretched condition, and drying the trousers while retained in stretched condition.

21. In a machine of the character described, a support, spaced means on the support for stretchingly mounting the leg portions of a pair of trousers, cooperative stretching means on the support for stretchingly engaging the upper portion of the trousers including spaced supporting means for engaging the waist band of the trousers, a gripping member for engaging the back of the waist band at a point intermediate the spaced supporting means, means for engaging the fly of the trousers and movable between said spaced suporting means to cooperate therewith and with the gripping member for tensioning the waist band of the trousers, and means for moving one of said stretching means on the support to and from the other to stretch the trousers for length.

22. In a machine of the character described, a support, spaced means on the support for stretchingly mounting the leg portions of a pair of trousers, cooperative stretching means on the support for stretchingly engaging the upper portion of the trousers including spaced supporting means for engaging the waist band of the trousers, a gripping member for engaging the back of the waist band at a point intermediate the spaced supporting means, means on the gripping member for engaging the seat of the trousers. means for engaging the fly of the trousers and movable between said spaced supporting means to cooperate therewith andwith the gripping member for tensioning the waist band of the trousers, and means for moving one of said stretching'means on the support to and from the other to stretch the trousers for length.

23. In a machine or the character described, a support, spaced means on the support for stretchingly mounting the leg portions of a pair of trousers, cooperative stretching means on the support for stretchingly engaging the upper portion of the trousers including spaced supporting means for engaging the waist band of the trousers, a gripping member for engaging the back of the waist band at a pointintermediate the spaced supporting means, means on the gripping member -for engaging the seat of the trousers,

means for engaging the fly oi the trousers and movable between said spaced supporting means to cooperate therewith and with the gripping member for tensioning the waist band or the trousers, means for moving one of said stretching means on the support to and from the other to stretch the trousers for length, and means for moving said gripping member, including said seat engaging means, to stretch the seat portion of the trousers.

24. The method of stretching trousers including, engaging the fly oi the trousers at the waist band, gripping the waist band oi the trousers at spaced points on opposite sides of the fly and at an intermediate point at the back of the waistband, drawing the fly in the direction of the intermediate point to tension the waist band, applying tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, and stretching the trousers for length.

25. The method of stretching trousers'including, engaging the fly of the trousers at the waist band, gripping the waist band of the trousers at spac'edpoints on opposite sides of the fly and at an intermediate point at the back of the waist band, drawing the fly in the direction of the intermediate point to tension the waist band, applying tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, stretching the trousers for length, and shaping the seat and hip portions of the trousers simultaneously with said stretching and waistband tensioning steps.

26. The method of stretching trousers including, engaging'the fly of the trousers at the waist band, gripping: the waist band of the trousers at spaced points onopposite sides of the fly and at an intermediate point at the back of the waist band, drawing the fly in the direction of the intermediate point to tension the waist band, applying tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, stretching the trousers for length, steaming the trousers to facilitate stretching, and subjecting the trousers to the drying action of air while retained in stretched condition to set the shape imparted to the trousers.

27. The method or stretching trousers including, engaging the fly of the trousers at the waist band, gripping the waist band of the trousers at spaced points on opposite sides of the fly and at an intermediate point at the back of the waist band, drawing the fly in the directionof the intermediate point to tension the waist band, applying tension to the bottoms of the leg portions of the trousers, stretching the trousers for length, shaping the seat and hip portions of the trousers simultaneously with said stretching and waist band tensioning steps, steaming the trousers to facilitate stretching, and subjecting the trousers to the drying action of air while retained in stretched condition to set the shape imparted to the trousers.

28. The method of stretching trousers including, engaging the fly of the trousers at the waist band, gripping the waist band of the trousers at spaced points on opposite sides of the fly and at an intermediate point at the back of the waist band, drawing the fly in the direction of said intermediate point to tension the waist band over the spaced points, shaping the seat portion of the trousers, and applying tension between the leg portions and said waist band to stretch the seat and hip portions of the trousers for length.

29. In a machine of the character described, a support, including a pair of form guides, apair of collapsible forms on said guides, a stretching carriage movable on the guides to and from the forms, means on the carriage for gripping a garment applied to the forms, means for expanding the forms to stretch the garment in one direction, means for moving the carriage to stretch the garment in another direction relatively to the first named direction, means for moving the gripping means in stretching the garment in the first named direction, means for delivering steam into the garment, and means for circulating steam through the guides to heat said guides, forms and the carriage for preventing condensation of the steam thereon that is discharged from said delivering means.

ARO M. HARVEY. 

